30+ Spanish Travel Phrases for catching the bus

Whether you’re an expat catching the local bus across town, a tourist traveling across the country on luxury bus or a back packer riding on one of the famous chicken buses, this collection of phrase for catching the bus in Spanish will make your journey much easier.

If you’d prefer to skip the fluff and just download the phrases, here’s the link:

For the rest of you, let’s get to it. The phrases will be listed after this .

Traveling by bus is a very economic way to get around, but you’ll need a bit of Spanish to do so. This list of is composed of phrases that I actually use on my visits to Spanish speaking countries so I know they work and they’re not awkward translations from a translator or by some guy sitting at a desk writing the next edition of a phrasebook who’s never even taken a bus in a Spanish speaking country.

But before we jump into the list, here’s something you should know.

Your dictionary is probably going to tell you that the word in Spanish for bus is autobús. And it is. You can go anywhere in the Spanish speaking world and everyone will know what an autobús is. The problem is everyone isn’t always going to use it.

Many Spanish speaking countries have local words they use to refer to an autobús you probably have never heard of. The locals are so accustomed to these words they use them without even thinking about them, like the word guagua. And when that happens you’re going to be left standing there with that deer in headlights look.

Ok, time to take a look at some of these alternate words for autobús in Spanish. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but just a few of the more common terms you may hear.

In several parts of Mexico they say camión.

In the Caribbean (Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, etc.) they use the term guagua.

In some places like Argentina they use the word colectivo. You may hear this in Mexico as well.

There’s also buseta which is generally a smaller bus that can carry maybe 30 passengers. Think of it as bigger than a van but smaller than a city bus.

So far I’ve always heard the larger, Greyhound type buses referred to as an autobús, or simply bus. Remember to use your Spanish pronunciation though, because if you say bus with your American or British accent most Spanish speakers will end up giving you the deer in headlights look.

Alright, this is where the rubber meets the road. It’s time for me to deliver on that collection of Spanish travel phrases for catching for the bus. Use the link below to download a free PDF of the phrases. Otherwise keep reading to view them here on the blog.

1. Can you tell me when we get to (…)?
¿Me puede avisar cuándo lleguemos a (…)?

2. Can you tell me where to get off the bus?
¿Me puede decir donde me bajo del aútobus?

3. Could you tell me when I have to get off?
¿Podría decirme cuando me tengo que bajar?

4. Did the bus already come by?
¿Ya pasó el autobús?

5. Do I get off here?
¿Me bajo aquí?

6. Do I have to change buses?
¿Tengo que cambiar de autobús?

7. Do I have to get off here?
¿Tengo que bajarme aquí?

8. Do the buses run on weekends?
¿Pasan autobuses los fines de semana?

9. Does the bus run on the weekend?
¿Pasa el autobús en el fin de semana?

10. Does this bus go downtown?
¿Este autobús va al centro?

11. Does this bus go to (…)?
¿Este autobús va a (…)?

12. Does this bus stop in (…)?
¿Se para este autobús en (…)?

13. How late does the bus run at night?
¿Hasta qué hora pasa el autobús en la noche?

14. How long before the bus comes?
¿Cuánto tarda en pasar el bus?

15. How much is the bus fare to (…)?
¿Cuánto cuesta el pasaje en autobús a (…)?

16. How much is the bus fare?
¿Cuánto es el pasaje de autobús?

17. How often do the buses run?
¿Con qué frecuencia pasan los autobuses?

18. I’d like to get off at the next stop
Quiero bajarme en la próxima parada

19. Is this the bus to (…)?
¿És este el autobús a (…)?

20. What time do I have to catch the bus?
¿A qué hora tengo que tomar el aútobus?

21. What time does the last bus leave?
¿A qué hora sale el último autobús?

22. What’s the next stop?
¿Cuál es la próxima parada?

23. When does the next bus arrive?
¿Cuándo llega el próximo autobús?

24. When does the next bus come by?
¿Cuándo pasa el próximo autobús?

25. When is the next bus to (…)?
¿Cuándo sale el próximo autobús a (…)?

26. Where do I catch the bus to go to (…)?
¿Dónde tomo el autobús a (…)?

27. Where does the bus leave from?
¿De dónde sale el autobús?

28. Where is the bus station?
¿Dónde está la estación de autobuses?

29. Where is the bus stop?
¿Dónde está la parada del autobús?

30. Where is the bus stop to go to (…)?
¿Dónde está la parada para ir a (…)?

31. What time is the next bus to (…)?
¿A qué hora es el próximo autobús a (…)?

32. Is this seat taken?
¿Está ocupado este asiento?

33. How long is the trip?
¿Cuánto dura el viaje?

34. Where can I buy a ticket?
¿Dónde puedo comprar un boleto?

You can also get this collection of phrases on your Android phone with the My Spanish Phrasebook app. Developed by me, it has 1600+ useful phrases for expats, travelers and Spanish learners. It can be hard to remember all that Spanish floating around in your head, so this is the perfect tool to help you remember those Spanish phrases when you need them the most.

And that’s it. I hope you all find this list useful. If there’s something I left off or if you have any additional suggestions please leave a comment below.

¡Hasta la próxima!

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